Helping with scheduling are employees added with the May 2012 opening of the dealership's 66,000-square-foot facility at 5640 Market St., Thompson said.

So why the change?

"It was just market conditions. All the other major metros are open on Sunday," Thompson said, adding the dealership needed the extra day "to hit our lofty sales goals. We have to meet expenses and meet the needs of the customer."

Customer reaction has been positive in the early going and traffic "very good," Thompson said. He reports "no negative feedback. No phone complaints."

When customers "physically come to the dealership your opportunity to make a sale is very good," he said. That's important because research shows vehicle shoppers only visit 1.3 dealerships before they buy. "That's down from almost four visits only five years ago."

Thompson said he expects traffic "to be every bit as good as weekdays," though "it will take a while for the customers to be accustomed to us being here."

In some markets, dealerships are open for service on Sundays. "They have quick lube," he said, and are staffed with technicians.

Toyota Scion here doesn't plan to offer service on Sunday now, though detailers will be on duty.

"We've had several indications on the sales side," Thompson said, "that (customers) like to take delivery on Sunday."

<p>Wilmington-area residents can eat, drink and shop for clothes or any number of other consumer goods on Sundays.</p><p>Need a digital camera? You can get it. Need a pair of shoes? No problem. The shopping centers are open as well as big box stores. </p><p>But car and truck shopping? No.</p><p>Now Hendrick Toyota Scion Wilmington has changed all of that, becoming the first local dealership to break a long-standing tradition of staying closed on Sundays, said Doug Thompson, general manager.</p><p>Competitors cite Sunday as a day of rest and a time for employees' families to gather after worship services. </p><p>But auto dealerships' Sunday hours are common in other markets, Thompson said, citing cities where Hendrick has sister dealerships – Fayetteville, Charlotte, Cary and Kansas City.</p><p>"Several years ago we began to open (Sundays) in Kansas City. Just across the state line (in Kansas) there was a blue law. There was substantial push back from people in the metro area," he said. </p><p>In Charlotte, however, Sunday hours have been around for a long time, Thompson said.</p><p>Still, Thompson said he made provisions for his staff to go to church. </p><p>"It did require us to substantially rewrite our schedule," he said. "To make it a family-friendly schedule, we don't open until 1 p.m., so they can go to church."</p><p>Toyota Scion closes at 5 p.m. on Sunday, while weekday hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays.</p><p>Helping with scheduling are employees added with the May 2012 opening of the dealership's 66,000-square-foot facility at 5640 Market St., Thompson said.</p><p>So why the change?</p><p>"It was just market conditions. All the other major metros are open on Sunday," Thompson said, adding the dealership needed the extra day "to hit our lofty sales goals. We have to meet expenses and meet the needs of the customer."</p><p>Customer reaction has been positive in the early going and traffic "very good," Thompson said. He reports "no negative feedback. No phone complaints."</p><p>When customers "physically come to the dealership your opportunity to make a sale is very good," he said. That's important because research shows vehicle shoppers only visit 1.3 dealerships before they buy. "That's down from almost four visits only five years ago."</p><p>Thompson said he expects traffic "to be every bit as good as weekdays," though "it will take a while for the customers to be accustomed to us being here."</p><p>In some markets, dealerships are open for service on Sundays. "They have quick lube," he said, and are staffed with technicians.</p><p>Toyota Scion here doesn't plan to offer service on Sunday now, though detailers will be on duty.</p><p>"We've had several indications on the sales side," Thompson said, "that (customers) like to take delivery on Sunday." </p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic99"><b>Wayne Faulkner</b></a>: 343-2329</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @bizniznews</p>